Changes on the injection molding machine front
Canadian Plastics
The injection molding machine landscape has altered dramatically in the past few weeks.
The injection molding machine landscape has altered dramatically in the past few weeks.
Close to home, Engel Canada announced that it would stop manufacturing machines at its Guelph, Ont. facility by May 2008, at a cost of 225 jobs.
The company will only retain approximately 30 employees in Guelph, dealing mainly in sales, service and spare parts. This will mark the end of Engel’s injection molding machinery manufacturing operations in Canada, as the production of small-and medium-sized machines will be transferred to the company’s manufacturing plant in York, Pa. “The recent decreased market demand [for injection molding machines] necessitates consolidation of our manufacturing operations into one facility,” said Steve Braig, Engel’s North American CEO. The Guelph facility will continue to produce key molding cell automation systems, he added.
Meanwhile, Japanese injection press maker Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. will acquire Demag Ergotech GmbH and Van Dorn Demag Corp., creating the world’s largest press maker as measured by sales and helping the Japanese firm expand outside its Asian base. Sumitomo’s statement said the companies anticipate a stock transfer on March 3.
Demag shuttered its manufacturing operations in North America last year, and only conducts sales activities here.
Finally, Dutch-based Stork Plastics Machinery B. V., a leading European manufacturer of high-speed injection molding machines, has announced that it will begin selling into the Canadian and U. S. markets. The company produces machines up to 1,500 tons clamping force, primarily for in-mold labeling and two-component labeling.
Stork will open a sales office in Shirley, Mass. headed by sales manager Tony Thompson, a 25-year veteran of Netstal Machinery Inc.
